What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Vp/Va Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Laneth-40 Maleate/Styrene Sulfonate Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxy Difluoroethyl PEG Phosphate
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Alcohol Denat., Vp/Va Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Laneth-40 Maleate/Styrene Sulfonate Copolymer, Parfum, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Rice Amino Acids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus/Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Ferment Extract, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxy Difluoroethyl PEG Phosphate, Linalool, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Coumarin
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
Dryopteris Filix-Mas Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Alcohol Denat., Water, Vp/Va Copolymer, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Panthenol, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Propylene Glycol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Sorbitol, Bambusa Vulgaris Shoot Extract, Dryopteris Filix-Mas Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPEG-12 Dimethicone is a type of water-soluble silicone. It has skin conditioning and hydrating properties.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's stability is decreased by strong acid or alkali.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
VP/VA Copolymer is a synthetic polymer made by joining two smaller molecules (vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate) into a larger chain.
It is mainly used as a film-former and fixing agent. When a product dries, it creates a thin and flexible layer on the skin, hair, or nails. This film helps hold hairstyles into place, adds a smooth feel to skin, and traps moisture to reduce dryness.
Irritation is rare at normal concentrations and it doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
Learn more about Vp/Va CopolymerWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
